Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge
3172 Words
Subscribe for ad free access & additional features for teachers. Authors: 267, Books: 3,607, Poems & Short Stories: 4,435, Forum Members: 71,154, Forum Posts: 1,238,602, Quizzes: 344
Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge
When chill November's surly blast
Made fields and forests bare,
One ev'ning, as I wander'd forth
Along the banks of Ayr,
I spied a man, whose aged step
Seem'd weary, worn with care;
His face furrow'd o'er with years,
And hoary was his hair.
"Young stranger, whither wand'rest thou?"
Began the rev'rend sage;
"Does thirst of wealth thy step constrain,
Or youthful pleasure's rage?
Or haply, prest with cares and woes,
Too soon thou hast began
To wander forth, with me to mourn
The miseries of man.
"The sun that overhangs yon moors,
Out-spreading far and wide,
Where hundreds labour to support
A haughty lordling's pride;--
I've seen yon weary winter-sun
Twice forty times return;
And ev'ry time has added proofs,
That man was made to mourn.
"O man! while in thy early years,
How prodigal of time!
Mis-spending all thy precious hours--
Thy glorious, youthful prime!
Alternate follies take the sway;
Licentious passions burn;
Which tenfold force gives Nature's law.
That man was made to mourn.
"Look not alone on youthful prime,
Or manhood's active might;
Man then is useful to his kind,
Supported in his right:
But see him on the edge of life,
With cares and sorrows worn;
Then Age and Want--oh! ill-match'd pair--
Shew man was made to mourn.
"A few seem favourites of fate,
In pleasure's lap carest;
Yet, think not all the rich and great
Are likewise truly blest:
But oh! what crowds in ev'ry land,
All wretched and forlorn,
Thro' weary life this lesson learn,
That man was made to mourn.
"Many and sharp the num'rous ills
Inwoven with our frame!
More pointed still we make ourselves,
Regret, remorse, and shame!
And man, whose heav'n-erected face
The smiles of love adorn,--
Man's inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn!
"See yonder poor, o'erlabour'd wight,
So abject, mean, and vile,
Who begs a brother of the earth
To give him leave to toil;
And see his lordly fellow-worm
The poor petition spurn,
Unmindful, tho' a weeping wife
And helpless offspring mourn.
"If I'm design'd yon lordling's slave,
By Nature's law design'd,
Why was an independent wish
E'er planted in my mind?
If not, why am I subject to
His cruelty, or scorn?
Or why has man the will and pow'r
To make his fellow mourn?
"Yet, let not this too much, my son,
Disturb thy youthful breast:
This partial view of human-kind
Is surely not the last!
The poor, oppressed, honest man
Had never, sure, been born,
Had there not been some recompense
To comfort those that mourn!
"O Death! the poor man's dearest friend,
The kindest and the best!
Welcome the hour my aged limbs
Are laid with thee at rest!
The great, the wealthy fear thy blow
From pomp and pleasure torn;
But, oh! a blest relief for those
That weary-laden mourn!"
About Robert Burns
Text
Summary
Preface
1771 - 1779
Song--Handsome Nell
O Tibbie, I Hae Seen The Day
I Dream'd I Lay
In The Character Of A Ruined Farmer
Tragic Fragment
The Tarbolton Lasses
Montgomerie's Peggy
The Ploughman's Life
1780
The Ronalds Of The Bennals
Song--Here's To Thy Health
The Lass Of Cessnock Banks
Song--Bonie Peggy Alison
Song--Mary Morison
1781
Winter: A Dirge
Prayer, Under The Pressure Of Violent Anguish
Paraphrase Of The First Psalm
The First Six Verses Of The Ninetieth Psalm Versified
Prayer, In The Prospect Of Death
Stanzas, On The Same Occasion
1782
Fickle Fortune: A Fragment
Raging Fortune--Fragment Of Song
Impromptu--"I'll Go And Be A Sodger"
Song--"No Churchman Am I"
A Stanza Added In A Mason Lodge
My Father Was A Farmer
John Barleycorn: A Ballad
1783
Death And Dying Words Of Poor Mailie
Poor Mailie's Elegy
Song--The Rigs O' Barley
Song Composed In August
Song-Tune "My Nanie, O."
Song--Green Grow The Rashes
Song--Wha Is That At My Bower-Door
1784
Remorse: A Fragment
Epitaph On Wm. Hood, Senr., In Tarbolton
Epitaph On James Grieve, Laird Of Boghead, Tarbolton
Epitaph On My Own Friend And My Father's Friend
Epitaph On My Ever Honoured Father
Ballad On The American War
Reply To An Announcement By J. Rankine
Epistle To John Rankine
A Poet's Welcome To His Love-Begotten Daughter
Song--O Leave Novels
Fragment--The Mauchline Lady
Fragment--My Girl She's Airy
The Belles Of Mauchline
Epitaph On A Noisy Polemic
Epitaph On A Henpecked Country Squire
Epigram On The Said Occasion
Another
On Tam The Chapman
Epitaph On John Rankine
Lines On The Author's Death
Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge
The Twa Herds; Or, The Holy Tulyie
1785
Epistle To Davie, A Brother Poet
Holy Willie's Prayer
Epitaph On Holy Willie
Death and Doctor Hornbook
Epistle To J. Lapraik, An Old Scottish Bard
Second Epistle To J. Lapraik
Epistle To William Simson
Postcript
One Night As I Did Wander
Tho' Cruel Fate Should Bid Us Part
Song--Rantin', Rovin' Robin
Elegy On The Death Of Robert Ruisseaux
Epistle To John Goldie, In Kilmarnock
The Holy Fair
Third Epistle To J. Lapraik
Epistle To The Rev. John M'math
Second Epistle to Davie
Song--Young Peggy Blooms
Song--Farewell To Ballochmyle
Fragment--Her Flowing Locks
Halloween
To A Mouse
Epitaph On John Dove, Innkeeper
Epitaph For James Smith
Adam Armour's Prayer
The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata
Song--For A' That
Song--Merry Hae I Been Teethin A Heckle
The Cotter's Saturday Night
Address To The Deil
Scotch Drink
1786
The Auld Farmer's New-Year-Morning Salutation
The Twa Dogs
The Author's Earnest Cry And Prayer
The Ordination
Epistle To James Smith
The Vision
The Rantin' Dog, The Daddie O't
Here's His Health In Water
Address To The Unco Guid, Or The Rigidly Righteous
The Inventory
To John Kennedy, Dumfries House
To Mr. M'Adam, Of Craigen-Gillan
To A Louse
Inscribed On A Work Of Hannah More's
Song, Composed In Spring
To A Mountain Daisy
To Ruin
The Lament
Despondency: An Ode
To Gavin Hamilton, Esq., Mauchline,
Versified Reply To An Invitation
Song--Will Ye Go To The Indies, My Mary?
Song--My Highland Lassie, O
Epistle To A Young Friend
Address Of Beelzebub
A Dream
A Dedication
Versified Note To Dr. Mackenzie, Mauchline
The Farewell To the Brethren of St. James' Lodge, Tarbolton
On A Scotch Bard, Gone To The West Indies
Song--Farewell To Eliza
A Bard's Epitaph
Epitaph On "Wee Johnie"
The Lass O' Ballochmyle
Lines To An Old Sweetheart
Motto Prefixed To The Author's First Publication
Lines To Mr. John Kennedy
Lines Written On A Banknote
Stanzas On Naething
The Farewell
Thomson's Edward and Eleanora
The Calf
Nature's Law--A Poem
Song--Willie Chalmers
Reply To A Trimming Epistle Received From A Tailor
The Brigs Of Ayr
Fragment Of Song
Epigram On Rough Roads
Prayer--O Thou Dread Power
Farewell Song To The Banks Of Ayr
Address To The Toothache
Lines On Meeting With Lord Daer
Masonic Song
Tam Samson's Elegy
Epistle To Major Logan
Fragment On Sensibility
A Winter Night
Song--Yon Wild Mossy Mountains
Address To Edinburgh
Address To A Haggis
1787
To Miss Logan
Mr. William Smellie--A Sketch
Song--Bonie Dundee
Extempore In The Court Of Session
Inscription For The Headstone Of Fergusson The Poet
Epistle To Mrs. Scott
Verses Intended To Be Written Below A Noble Earl's Picture
The Bonie Moor-Hen
Song--My Lord A-Hunting
Epigram At Roslin Inn
Epigram Addressed To An Artist
The Book-Worms
On Elphinstone's Translation Of Martial's Epigrams
Song--A Bottle And Friend
Epitaph For William Nicol
Epitaph For Mr. William Michie
Address To Wm. Tytler, Esq., Of Woodhouselee
Epigram To Miss Ainslie In Church
Burlesque Lament For The Absence Of William Creech, Publisher
Note To Mr. Renton Of Lamerton
Elegy On "Stella"
The Bard At Inverary
Epigram To Miss Jean Scott
On The Death Of John M'Leod, Esq,
Elegy On The Death Of Sir James Hunter Blair
Impromptu On Carron Iron Works
To Miss Ferrier
Written By Somebody On The Window
The Poet's Reply To The Threat Of A Censorious Critic
The Libeller's Self-Reproof
Verses Written With A Pencil
Song--The Birks Of Aberfeldy
The Humble Petition Of Bruar Water
Lines On The Fall Of Fyers Near Loch-Ness.
Epigram On Parting With A Kind Host In The Highlands
Strathallan's Lament
Castle Gordon
Song--Lady Onlie, Honest Lucky
Theniel Menzies' Bonie Mary
The Bonie Lass Of Albany
On Scaring Some Water-Fowl In Loch-Turit
Blythe Was She
A Rose-Bud By My Early Walk
Epitaph For Mr. W. Cruikshank
Song--The Banks Of The Devon
Braving Angry Winter's Storms
Song--My Peggy's Charms
The Young Highland Rover
Birthday Ode For 31st December, 1787
On The Death Of Robert Dundas, Esq., Of Arniston,
Sylvander To Clarinda
1788
Love In The Guise Of Friendship
Go On, Sweet Bird, And Sooth My Care
Clarinda, Mistress Of My Soul
I'm O'er Young To Marry Yet
To The Weavers Gin Ye Go
M'Pherson's Farewell
Stay My Charmer
Song--My Hoggie
Raving Winds Around Her Blowing
Up In The Morning Early
Hey, The Dusty Miller
Duncan Davison
The Lad They Ca'Jumpin John
Talk Of Him That's Far Awa
To Daunton Me
The Winter It Is Past
The Bonie Lad That's Far Awa
Verses To Clarinda
The Chevalier's Lament
Epistle To Hugh Parker
Of A' The Airts The Wind Can Blaw
Song--I Hae a Wife O' My Ain
Lines Written In Friars'-Carse Hermitage
To Alex. Cunningham, ESQ., Writer
Song.--Anna, Thy Charms
The Fete Champetre
Epistle To Robert Graham, Esq., Of Fintry
Song.--The Day Returns
Song.--O, Were I On Parnassus Hill
A Mother's Lament
The Fall Of The Leaf
I Reign In Jeanie's Bosom
Auld Lang Syne
My Bonie Mary
The Parting Kiss
Written In Friar's-Carse Hermitage
The Poet's Progress
Elegy On The Year 1788
The Henpecked Husband
Versicles On Sign-Posts
1789
Robin Shure In Hairst
Ode, Sacred To The Memory Of Mrs. Oswald Of Auchencruive
Pegasus At Wanlockhead
Sappho Redivivus--A Fragment
Song--She's Fair And Fause
Impromptu Lines To Captain Riddell
Lines To John M'Murdo, Esq. Of Drumlanrig
Rhyming Reply To A Note From Captain Riddell
Caledonia--A Ballad
To Miss Cruickshank
Beware O' Bonie Ann
Ode On The Departed Regency Bill
Epistle To James Tennant Of Glenconner
A New Psalm For The Chapel Of Kilmarnock
Sketch In Verse
The Wounded Hare
Delia, An Ode
The Gard'ner Wi' His Paidle
On A Bank Of Flowers
Young Jockie Was The Blythest Lad
The Banks Of Nith
Jamie, Come Try Me
I Love My Love In Secret
Sweet Tibbie Dunbar
The Captain's Lady
John Anderson, My Jo
My Love, She's But A Lassie Yet
Song--Tam Glen
Carle, An The King Come
The Laddie's Dear Sel'
Whistle O'er The Lave O't
My Eppie Adair
On The Late Captain Grose's Peregrinations Thro' Scotland
Epigram On Francis Grose The Antiquary
The Kirk Of Scotland's Alarm
Presentation Stanzas To Correspondents
Sonnet On Receiving A Favour
Extemporaneous Effusion
Song--Willie Brew'd A Peck O' Maut
Ca' The Yowes To The Knowes
I Gaed A Waefu' Gate Yestreen
Highland Harry Back Again
The Battle Of Sherramuir
The Braes O' Killiecrankie
Awa' Whigs, Awa'
A Waukrife Minnie
The Captive Ribband
My Heart's In The Highlands
The Whistle--A Ballad
To Mary In Heaven
Epistle To Dr. Blacklock
The Five Carlins
Election Ballad For Westerha'
Prologue Spoken At The Theatre Of Dumfries
1790
Sketch--New Year's Day [1790]
Scots' Prologue For Mr. Sutherland
Lines To A Gentleman
Elegy On Willie Nicol's Mare
The Gowden Locks Of Anna
Song--I Murder Hate
Gudewife, Count The Lawin
Election Ballad
Elegy On Captain Matthew Henderson
Verses On Captain Grose
Tam O' Shanter
On The Birth Of A Posthumous Child
Elegy On The Late Miss Burnet Of Monboddo
1791
Lament Of Mary, Queen Of Scots, On The Approach Of Spring
There'll Never Be Peace Till Jamie Comes Hame
Song--Out Over The Forth
The Banks O' Doon--First Version
The Banks O' Doon--Second Version
The Banks O' Doon--Third Version
Lament For James, Earl Of Glencairn
Lines Sent To Sir John Whiteford, Bart
Craigieburn Wood
Epigram On Miss Davies
The Charms Of Lovely Davies
What Can A Young Lassie Do Wi' An Auld Man
The Posie
On Glenriddell's Fox Breaking His Chain
Poem On Pastoral Poetry
Verses On The Destruction Of The Woods Near Drumlanrig
The Gallant Weaver
Epigram At Brownhill Inn
Lovely Polly Stewart
Fragment,--Damon And Sylvia
Johnie Lad, c**k Up Your Beaver
My Eppie Macnab
Altho' He Has Left Me
My Tocher's The Jewel
O For Ane An' Twenty, Tam
Thou Fair Eliza
My Bonie Bell
Sweet Afton
Address To The Shade Of Thomson
Nithsdale's Welcome Hame
Frae The Friends And Land I Love
Such A Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation
Ye Jacobites By Name
I Hae Been At Crookieden
O Kenmure's On And Awa, Willie
Epistle To John Maxwell, ESQ., Of Terraughty
Second Epistle To Robert Graham, ESQ., Of Fintry
The Song Of Death
Poem On Sensibility
The Toadeater
Divine Service In The Kirk Of Lamington
The Keekin'-Glass
A Grace Before Dinner, Extempore
A Grace After Dinner, Extempore
O May, Thy Morn
Ae Fond Kiss, And Then We Sever
Behold The Hour, The Boat, Arrive
Thou Gloomy December
My Native Land Sae Far Awa
1792
I do Confess Thou Art Sae Fair
Lines On Fergusson, The Poet
The Weary Pund O' Tow
When She Cam' Ben She Bobbed
Scroggam, My Dearie
My Collier Laddie
Sic A Wife As Willie Had
Lady Mary Ann
Kellyburn Braes
The Slave's Lament
O Can Ye Labour Lea?
The Deuks Dang O'er My Daddie
The Deil's Awa Wi' The Exciseman
The Country Lass
Bessy And Her Spinnin' Wheel
Love For Love
Saw Ye Bonie Lesley
Fragment Of Song
I'll Meet Thee On The Lea Rig
My Wife's A Winsome Wee Thing
Highland Mary
Auld Rob Morris
The Rights Of Woman
Epigram On Seeing Miss Fontenelle In A Favourite Character
Extempore On Some Commemorations Of Thomson
Duncan Gray
Here's A Health To Them That's Awa
A Tippling Ballad
1793
Poortith Cauld And Restless Love
On Politics
Braw Lads O' Galla Water
Sonnet Written On The Author's Birthday
Wandering Willie--First Version
Wandering Willie--Revised Version
Lord Gregory
Open The Door To Me, Oh
Lovely Young Jessie
Meg O' The Mill
Meg O' The Mill--Another Version
The Soldier's Return
Versicles, A.D. 1793
The True Loyal Natives
On Commissary Goldie's Brains
Lines Inscribed In A Lady's Pocket Almanac
Thanksgiving For A National Victory
Lines On The Commemoration Of Rodney's Victory
The Raptures Of Folly
Kirk and State Excisemen
Extempore Reply To An Invitation
Grace After Meat
Grace Before And After Meat
Impromptu On General Dumourier's Desertion From The French Republican Army
The Last Time I Came O'er The Moor
Logan Braes
Blythe Hae I been On Yon Hill
O Were My Love Yon Lilac Fair
Bonie Jean--A Ballad
Lines On John M'Murdo, ESQ.
Epitaph On A Lap-Dog
Epigrams Against The Earl Of Galloway
Epigram On The Laird Of Laggan
Song--Phillis The Fair
Song--Had I A Cave
Song--By Allan Stream
Whistle, And I'll Come To You, My Lad
Phillis The Queen O' The Fair
Come, Let Me Take Thee To My Breast
Dainty Davie
Robert Bruce's March To Bannockburn
Behold The Hour, The Boat Arrive
Down The Burn, Davie
Thou Hast Left Me Ever, Jamie
Where Are The Joys I have Met?
Deluded Swain, The Pleasure
Thine Am I, My Faithful Fair
On Mrs. Riddell's Birthday
My Spouse Nancy
Address
Complimentary Epigram On Maria Riddell
1794
Remorseful Apology
Wilt Thou Be My Dearie?
A Fiddler In The North
The Minstrel At Lincluden
A Vision
A Red, Red Rose
Young Jamie, Pride Of A' The Plain
The Flowery Banks Of Cree
Monody
The Epitaph
Pinned To Mrs. Walter Riddell's Carriage
Epitaph For Mr. Walter Riddell
Epistle From Esopus To Maria
Epitaph On A Noted Coxcomb
On Capt. Lascelles
On Wm. Graham, Esq., Of Mossknowe
On John Bushby, Esq., Tinwald Downs
Sonnet On The Death Of Robert Riddell
The Lovely Lass O' Inverness
Charlie, He's My Darling
Bannocks O' Bear Meal
The Highland Balou
The Highland Widow's Lament
It Was A' For Our Rightfu' King
Ode For General Washington's Birthday
Inscription To Miss Graham Of Fintry
On The Seas And Far Away
Ca' The Yowes To The Knowes--Second Version
She Says She Loes Me Best Of A'
To Dr. Maxwell
To The Beautiful Miss Eliza J--N
On Chloris
On Seeing Mrs. Kemble In Yarico
Epigram On A Country Laird
On Being Shewn A Beautiful Country Seat
On Hearing It Asserted Falsehood
On A Suicide
On A Swearing Coxcomb
On An Innkeeper Nicknamed "The Marquis"
On Andrew Turner
Pretty Peg
Esteem For Chloris
Saw Ye My Dear, My Philly
How Lang And Dreary Is The Night
Inconstancy In Love
The Lover's Morning Salute To His Mistress
The Winter Of Life
Behold, My Love, How Green The Groves
The Charming Month Of May
Lassie Wi' The Lint-White Locks
Dialogue song--Philly And Willy
Contented Wi' Little And Cantie Wi' Mair
Farewell Thou Stream
Canst Thou Leave Me Thus, My Katie
My Nanie's Awa
The Tear-Drop
For The Sake O' Somebody
1795
A Man's A Man For A' That
Craigieburn Wood
Versicles of 1795
The Solemn League And Covenant
Lines sent with a Present of a Dozen of Porter.
Inscription On A Goblet
Apology For Declining An Invitation To Dine
Epitaph For Mr. Gabriel Richardson
Epigram On Mr. James Gracie
Bonie Peg-a-Ramsay
Inscription At Friars' Carse Hermitage
There Was A Bonie Lass
Wee Willie Gray
O Aye My Wife She Dang Me
Gude Ale Keeps The Heart Aboon
O Steer Her Up An' Haud Her Gaun
The Lass O' Ecclefechan
O Let Me In Thes Ae Night
Her Answer
I'll Aye Ca' In By Yon Town
O Wat Ye Wha's In Yon Town
Ballads on Mr. Heron's Election, 1795
Inscription For An Altar Of Independence
The Cardin O't, The Spinnin O't
The Cooper O' Cuddy
The Lass That Made The Bed To Me
Had I The Wyte? She Bade Me
Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat?
Address To The Woodlark
Song.--On Chloris Being Ill
How Cruel Are The Parents
Mark Yonder Pomp Of Costly Fashion
'Twas Na Her Bonie Blue E'e
Their Groves O'Sweet Myrtle
Forlorn, My Love, No Comfort Near
Fragment,--Why, Why Tell The Lover
The Braw Wooer
This Is No My Ain Lassie
O Bonie Was Yon Rosy Brier
Song Inscribed To Alexander Cunningham
O That's The Lassie O' My Heart
Inscription
Fragment.--Leezie Lindsay
Fragment.--The Wren's Nest
News, Lassies, News
Crowdie Ever Mair
Mally's Meek, Mally's Sweet
Jockey's Taen The Parting Kiss
Verses To Collector Mitchell
Postscript
1796
The Dean Of Faculty
Epistle To Colonel De Peyster
A Lass Wi' A Tocher
Heron Election Ballad, No. IV.
Complimentary Versicles To Jessie Lewars
O Lay Thy Loof In Mine, Lass
A Health To Ane I Loe Dear
O Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast
Inscription To Miss Jessy Lewars
Fairest Maid On Devon Banks
Glossary
Sorry, no summary available yet.
Art of Worldly Wisdom Daily
In the 1600s, Balthasar Gracian, a jesuit priest wrote 300 aphorisms on living life called "The Art of Worldly Wisdom." Join our newsletter below and read them all, one at a time.
Email:
Sonnet-a-Day Newsletter
Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets! Join our Sonnet-A-Day Newsletter and read them all, one at a time.
- Writer
